Food coloring is a wonderful and versatile safe product that allows for endless fun, including temporary blue hair dye for kids.
When my kids were little and did not want to have a bath, my number one trick was to ask them ‘what color bath are we having today?’ instead of simply commanding ‘have a bath’. A few drops of food coloring later – one day blue, another day red, or a combination of both for a purple lagoon – the problem was solved.
Fast forward many years and food coloring is still very much part of family fun times, but not necessarily in the form of colorful baths. Whilst baking and icing are still the main destination for the bright drops, hair dyeing with food coloring has become increasingly popular with our kids. It is an easy, safe (bleach-free), and a fun way to dye small parts of your hair. Whilst our 11-year-old girl is the most interested amongst our three kids, our two boys don’t mind a bit of a crazy hairstyle for special occasions such as Halloween or the odd School Disco.
Washable and Safe Hair Dye for Kids
As a mum, I love food coloring as an option for hair dye. It is cheap and easy. But the two most important factors are safety and (relative) cleanliness. Food coloring was obviously created for food! My gut feeling tells me that if it is safe to go inside your body, it should be even safer to go outside – on your hair or skin. Unlike professional hair dye for adults, food coloring has no bleach. It is also very easy to wash. It usually goes away on your first wash. Although I still recommend gloves, it comes easily off your hands after a couple of washes too and, particularly, if you are quick to wash them.
In terms of cleanliness, I certainly recommend dyeing your hair outside or using old towels and old sheets if you are doing it inside. Nevertheless, what makes the food coloring technique particularly clean is that you don’t need a huge amount of it. All you need is enough to soak the area you would like to cover. If you are just doing the tips – as shown in the feature image here – all you need is about 1/5 cup of warm water and between 4-8 drops of food coloring (blonde hair requires a lot less than darker hair). Small amounts of dye liquid are much easier to manage than other techniques requiring larger amounts of water + color.
Step by Step: How to Make Blue Hair Dye with Food Coloring
OK – enough talking! Let the fun begin! For the food coloring technique, you will need:
- Warm water – just enough to soak the area you want to dye (I used about 1/5 cup)
- 1 teaspoon of kitchen salt
- 4 to 8 drops of food coloring (this will depend on how intense you want the color and also on your natural hair color (blonde hair requires a lot less coloring than darker shades, and if you have black or very dark hair this technique is probably not ideal!)
- A small bowl ( as small as possible – enough to fit in the chunk of hair to be colored)
- Aluminum Foil (enough to cover the area of hair to be colored)
- Hair dryer (optional but highly recommended as it will help the color to stay on your hair)
Method
Start by changing into old clothes an/or aprons that are OK with a few stains.
Second, organise your space with old towels or old sheets, if you are doing it indoor.
Prepare your hair by separating the area of hair you want to dye by using hair ties and clips. If you are doing the tips like we did in the feature image, it is a good idea to do a low ponytail with two or three hair ties along the way – the lowest area being the one you want to dye.
Pour warm water, salt and the food coloring in a small bowl and mix well.
Dip your hair in the bowl and leave it to soak for a minute or two, or until the area looks well soaked.
Carefully wrap the area you just colored with aluminum foil and leave it there for about twenty minutes. It is important to be careful as color might run on your clothes or furniture. It might be a good idea to wrap a towel around the shoulders during that time.
When time is up, remove the foil and blow-dry with a hair dryer. You may gently wipe some of the excess liquid in an old towel, but it is important not to overdo it as you may wipe the color off too. If you don’t have a hair dryer, just let it dry naturally, but, in this case, it is better not to wipe at all.
Have fun with your new blue hairdo!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it OK to dye a child’s hair?
For kids, it is important not to use any permanent or semi-permanent hair dye. Techniques such as the food coloring, creper paper and chalk colors are all safe and washable.
How can I dye my child’s hair at home?
There are different products that you ca safely use on kids’ hairs, however you can also use things such as food coloring or crepe paper to cheaply and safely dye your kids hair.
Can you dye a 5 year old’s hair?
If you use child friendly products and avoid permanent and/or semi-permanent colors, it is safe to dye a 5 year old’s hair. Nevertheless, some may argue that it is important for kids to have agency around this and actually choose to do it rather than having these decisions made for them by their parents. Older kids, if they are interested in hair dye and hair styling, will naturally gravitate towards it. It is also a good way to foster creativity in kids.
What is the safest hair dye for kids?
All hair dyes that are water based and are designed for kids are safe to use. Adult products such as permanent and/or semi-permanent colors are not suitable for kids.
Is Food Coloring Safe as Hair Dye?
Yes, you couldn’t get much safer than food coloring. As the name suggests, it is something we add to food. Anything designed and, hence, safe for eating should be safe on your (or your kids’) hair. As opposed to professional dye for adults, food coloring has no bleach.
